George Cartwright (trader)

George Cartwright was born at Marnham in Nottinghamshire, England, an elder brother of Edmund Cartwright, clergyman and inventor of the power loom,[2] and of John Cartwright, naval officer and English parliamentary reformer.[3][4]

Cartwright became a gentleman cadet in the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich, London when he was fifteen. He served in India as ensign in the 39th Foot. In 1759, he was promoted lieutenant while in Ireland. In 1760 he was aide-de-camp to the Marquess of Granby in Germany and a staff officer under Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick. He was brevetted captain in 1762, returned to England and went on half pay from 1762 to 1766. In 1766, Cartwright was commissioned Captain in the 37th Foot, and went to Minorca during 1766 and 1767.[5][6][7]

George Cartwright's brother John Cartwright was first lieutenant on HMS Guernsey. In the 1766 season, George Cartwright cruised the Newfoundland coast on this vessel with his brother.

In 1768, George Cartwright went to Newfoundland again and accompanied John Cartwright's voyage attempting to contact the Beothuk people on the Exploits river.

Between 1770 and 1786, Cartwright occupied a number of fishing and furring stations from Cape Charles to Sandwich Bay and developed connections with the Inuit and Innu people there. His financial successes was mixed at best, and his many setbacks included being thoroughly raided by American privateers in 1778.[8][9] This came about when his servant Dominick Kinnien defected to join the crew of the Bostonian John Grimes.[10]

In 1772, Cartwright brought five Inuit individuals from what was then called Labrador.[11] However, it is ambiguous to whether or not this was done forcefully or in collaboration with the chosen individuals. Traveling on this ship to England was Atajug, his youngest wife Ikkanguaq and their toddler daughter Ikiunaq. Joining Atajug’s family was Atajug’s younger brother Tuglavingaaq and his wife Qavvik, also known as Caubvick.[12] They traveled with Cartwright to Ireland and England, where they were a sensation, drawing the attention of King George III, Joseph Banks, John Hunter, James Boswell, Samuel Johnson, and great crowds. Similar to other Indigenous travellers to London in the past, this Inuit family was “subjected to the spectacle of Georgian London.”[11] The intention was both to show off the Imperial city and to show off them, the Inuit family, to the curious and consumer eyes of London society.

In May, 1773, Cartwright and Atajug’s family started the journey home. However, before they had even left the Thames, Qavvik fell ill with smallpox. Three weeks later Atajuq, Ikkanguaq, Ikiunaq and Tuglavingaaq had all died. Qavvik lived, returning to Labrador. Nearly a year later, Cartwright noted the devastation that followed Qavvik’s return. “The Inuit of southern Labrador were almost entirely wiped out by the disease.”[11]

In 1786, Cartwright returned to England. He published his diary in 1792 and continued to be interested in the politics and business of Labrador. He was barracks master of the Nottingham Militia from some time during the Napoleonic Wars until 1817. He died in 1819 in Mansfield, England.[13] He had an unparalleled love for Labrador until his death — as is shown, for example, in his lengthy and somewhat tedious piece of verse, of which this is a small extract:

Fish, Fowl and Ven’son now our tables grace:

Roast Beaver too, and ev’ry Beast of Chase.

Luxurious living this! who'd wish for more?

Were Quin alive, he'd haste to Labrador![14]

Cartwright died at Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. At Cartwright, Labrador, there is a substantial monument commemorating him and his brother John. Part of the inscription reads: "In Memory of George Cartwright, Captain in his Majesty's 37th Regiment of Foot ... who in March 1770 made a settlement on the coast of Labrador ... also of John Cartwright, Lieutenant of the Guernsey ...".[15]

• List of people of Newfoundland and Labrador

• Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online